The exhibition Juanita: at the origin of painting, the material work of Pepe Dámaso in dialogue with the island of Lanzarote, hangs from this Friday, November 14, on the walls of the International Museum of Contemporary Art-Castillo de San José. This is the first time that Dámaso has exhibited his work at the Art, Culture and Tourism Centers of the Cabildo de Lanzarote.
The director of the MIAC, María José Alcántara, was in charge of welcoming the attendees announcing "a different night since the artist who accompanies us today is different. Pepe Dámaso, who is part of this island, returns home." Alcántara explained the content of an exhibition "that takes a tour of a decade of work" and concluded her speech by pointing out that "Pepe is the island of affections, of joy, of eternal love."
For her part, the curator of the exhibition, Ángeles Alemán, embarked on a journey to the origins of the "relationship of love, deep respect and affection of Dámaso with the poor and lonely Juanita." The protagonist of the night, Pepe Dámaso, declared that he felt "deeply moved to be on an island that has meant so much to me" and described the exhibition as an "example of commitment." After evoking the figure of his teachers, Manrique and Millares, Dámaso invited the attendees to accompany him on his tour of the exhibition, insisting on the idea of feeling "very happy to be here today."
Juanita, created by Pepe Dámaso (Gran Canaria, 1933) in the late sixties of the last century, is the axis of this exhibition that can be visited until next February 14. Material works, collages, engravings, objects and a feature film reflect the concerns and fertile creativity of the artist from Gran Canaria, as well as a constant and permanent desire to investigate and innovate in art. This exhibition shows us that desire for experimentation always present in Dámaso's work and reflects a time when modernity could be difficult to achieve.
The exhibition is part of the Artists of the Collection cycle, a proposal with which the International Museum of Contemporary Art-Castillo de San José brings the work of some of the most representative creators of contemporary art present in the MIAC Collection closer, in this case, from the work Sudario (2001), and tries to delve into the derivations and routes that have developed their trajectories.
